Everything About Live Caribbean Stud Poker

Poker, along with blackjack and roulette, forms the holy trio in gambling. Developed during the early XIX century in the USA, poker became one of the most popular card games worldwide. The game has even grown to a very popular pastime around the world thanks to its simplicity.

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Gambling historians and experts believe that poker was derived from the ancient Persian game of As-Nas. Originally played with five cards for each player from a 20-card pack, poker has evolved a lot over the years. There are dozens of variants of poker nowadays, some more popular than others. As soon as a new variant comes to the market, it is widely accepted and becomes a major hit. The last one that raised the popularity of poker was Texas Hold’em in the 2000s.

Among all the exciting poker variants, there’s one that stands out – Caribbean Stud Poker. The variant originated in the early 1980s in Aruba casinos and has taken the gambling world by storm since then. Instead of allowing you to test your skills against others, Caribbean Stud Poker gives you a chance to play against the dealer. Unlike other poker games, you can’t bluff or deceive players in another way in this variant which means it relies on skill rather than smarts.

The origins of the game are highly disputed. David Sklansky, a professional poker player, claims that he invented the game in 1982 in Aruba. Sklansky called it Casino Poker in the beginning, but couldn’t patent the name. Later, he was approached by another poker player who bought the rights to the game and brought it to the Excelsior Casino in Aruba. After tweaking the rules, the casino created the game we know of today as Caribbean Stud Poker.

How to Play Live Caribbean Stud Poker

As mentioned, Caribbean Stud Poker differs from other poker variants in the notion that you play against the dealer rather than other players. In the USA where the game is very popular, the game starts with players placing their ante bet on the so-called layout – a spot in the center of the table. When all bets are placed, the dealer announced “No more bets” and the game begins.

All players and the dealer get 5 cards face down. When the dealer turns one of his cards, the players are allowed to look at their hand. When ready, every player has the option to play or fold. Choosing to play requires you to place a bet on the market spot which is equal to twice their ante. If the player chooses to fold, he forfeits his ante. The dealer reveals his four other cards when all players have made their choice.

The dealer plays if his hand forms at least a pair (Ace and a King) or any other higher-ranked poker hand. He compares his hand to each player’s hand individually. If the dealer’s hand doesn’t qualify, the players get even money on their ante bets and a push (return) on their raise bets. If the dealer wins, players lost both bets. The payouts for a player win vary from casino to casino. Everyone who bets the dealer gets even money on the ante bet, while the raise bet’s payout depends on the hand of the player. If you’re lucky to have a Royal Flush, the payout is a maximum 100:1.

What makes Caribbean Stud Poker so exciting is the addition of a progressive jackpot which spices up the gameplay. Caribbean Stud Poker has also received a great live dealer version by Evolution Gaming which is lighting up the world of live casinos.

Evolution Gaming Live Caribbean Stud Poker

In partnership with Games Marketing, Evolution Gaming has developed a real gem in Live Caribbean Stud Poker. A live dealer version of the popular poker variant, Live Caribbean Stud Poker ups the ante with unique side bets and a staggering progressive jackpot.

Exclusive to Evolution Gaming, the game offers fast-paced action that will get your adrenaline up and running. As mentioned, the side bets and progressive jackpot along with fixed lower-level jackpots add a unique touch to the game and make it all the more exciting. The game itself looks and feels great thanks to the professional dealers and the high-quality video streamed from one of Evolution’s great studios.

Caribbean Stud Poker live casino
Live Caribbean Stud Poker by Evolution Gaming

The game follows the traditional gameplay. This means that the dealer and players get five cards each (face down) and the game goes as we explained above. To add to the excitement, the 5+1 bonus bet and the progressive jackpot attached to the game can hand you amazing payouts.

The 5+1 Bonus Bet is an optional bet in Live Caribbean Poker Evolution Gaming  in which the player’s goal is to form a 5-card poker hand with their own cards and the first face-up card the dealer reveals. If you have Three of a Kind or better, the bets pay regardless of the dealer’s hand. If you’re wondering how much it pays, the highest potential win payout is a staggering 1,000:1!

When it comes to the progressive jackpot, it gives you an additional chance to win even more money regardless of the dealer’s hand. Just like all progressives, the jackpot rises in value with each round until someone wins it with a Royal Flush. The jackpot pays lower prizes for lower-ranked hands, so you get money either way.

Live Caribbean Stud Poker FAQ

Just like the names of other poker variants, Caribbean Stud Poker is named after its place of origin. As we already mentioned, it was created in Aruba, an island in the Caribbean, so it’s easy to see where it got its name from.

In most casinos, the house edge for the jackpot is 26%, which is undoubtedly high. If you’re a casual player, we’d stay away from it unless you plan on losing your whole bankroll.

Although payouts vary between casinos, the usual payout for a Royal Flush is 100:1 for the call (raise) bet and up to 1,000:1 for the 5+1 Bonus bet.

Live dealer games can’t be played for free, so no, you can’t play Live Caribbean Poker without making a deposit.

The progressive jackpot in Live Caribbean Stud Poker is reserved for Royal Flush hands. However, the game has fixed-prize jackpots for lower-ranked hands starting with Three of a Kind.